Episode 102 : Balmiki Pratibha
The situation under which Balmiki Pratibha was composed was discussed during a global adda with Bishnu & Anuradha Pal Chowdhury on the first half. Rabindranath's essay “Balmiki Pratibha” from Jibansmriti recited in the next half.

Episode 101: Sujata Mitra on Ek Sutrer Sandhyane
The last article written by my mother, Smt Sujata Mitra, on her memory of the early years of Santiniketan, published in “Ek Sutrer Sandhaney”. Songs by Santideb Ghosh, Pramita Mallick, Srikanta Acharya, Pijushkanti Sarkar, Subinoy Roy.

Episode 99: Dewal Patrika Inauguration – part 1
First part of the recording of a joint cultural function in Santiniketan held on 2nd September, performed jointly by students and exstudents of Patha Bhavana, to inaugurate a wall magazine, with voices from Shona, Piyali, Indrajit, Saugata, Amol, Arpan.

Episode 97: Santiniketaner Chithi, Roma di & Sunil Bhattacharya
Reading of Subhomoy Ghosh's Santiniketaner Chithi of 8th November 1952, a song by Roma Chakraborti, and a remarkable story of Sunil da (Satyabrata Bhattacharya) about working with education of Santhal children children. Assorted songs.

Episode 96 : Sujata Mitra on Kalimohan Ghosh
My mother writes about her father, Kalimohan Ghosh and how he came to meet Tagore and ended up in Santiniketan. This covers a part of history. Songs by Suchitra Mitra, Chorus, Ritu Guha, Asha Bhosle, Santideb Ghosh, Saunak, Lasi Ahmed Lisa

Episode 95 : Ms Jianhua talks about Tagore
An interview with Jianhua, a scientist who reads poetry, is an admirer of Tagore, and is also learning to dance with Tagore's songs. Global adda tries to sing a global chorus, with less that desirable result. The adda also discusses Santiniketan.

Episode 90 : Visva Adda Part 2
This is the second in the series of a global Kalor dokan adda of Santiniketan Asramiks around the world, carried out on 9th August. Songs from Gita Ghatak, Shyamal Chanda, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Rajeswari Dutta, Manashi Adhikari, Ranjana SenSarkar

Episode 89 : Global adda
This is the first ever podcast which contains nothing but a conference call & songs, continuation from the last one, covering a small sample of all the people that congregated across vast spaces from remote corners of the globe, on a virtual Kalor Dokan.

Episode 87: Basanta Utsab and a few purprises
Parts of Basanta Utsab by Patha Bhavan students presented here, along with songs from Ankhi, Pramita Mallick, Chitralekha Choudhury, and two unique Santiniketanites whose singing prowess were unkown before – Shyamal Chanda and Chittaranjan Deb.

Episode 86: Bhadugaan from Tuku di
Tuku di presents her Bhadugan on Patha Bhavana, along with a few from her School Days memory. Ankhhi sings two. Bratin Sen appreciates Mistuni di's Jat Gelo Pet Bhorlo na. Anandarup Ray and Hitabrata Roy record their message to Patha Bhavana

Episode 85: A few duet song from Sandip Tagore & Tan Lee
Sandip Tagore and Tan Lee presents an impromptu pair of duets. Kalyan Sarkar describes what he wishes to speak on record towards betterment of Visva Bharati. Piyali reads a Kageya Notice. More songs from Tukul, Vikram Singh, Suparna Guha and Subinoy Roy

Episode 81: Sumantra Sengupta recites a poem
I liked Mr. Sen's recitation in the hall of NABC2008, and then got the chance to interview him on the street outside of the convention hall. We also have a song from Pintu di (Manashi Adhikari0 as well as another from Tusu di (Sugata Sen)

Episode 80: Kathy and Joe O'Connel and the Alumni meet in Toronto
Santiniketanites get together in Toronto, during NABC2008. Kathleen and Joseph Tagore talk of Gurudev Rabindranath. Inauguration ceremony of NABC2008. Songs presented by Rabindranath Tagore, Satyabhusan Gupta, Santidev Ghosh.

Episode 79: Satyajit Chakraborti, and Bengali folks in Toronto
The interviewer gets interviewed – my encounter with Mr. Satyajit Chakraborti, of B-Tech institute of Engineering and Management. Sugata Sen presents two songs, along with more from Ranjana Sen and Vikram Singh. Anandarup da gets elected President.

Episode 78: Speaking from Toronto
Presenting this episode from a hotel room in Toronto, talking about how I landed there, in preparation to attending NABS2008. Songs from Basabi Dutta Roy, Anjana Sen, Mohor di, Mohan Singh and a unique Bhadugan from Tukul for the Praktoni web site.

Episode 76: The Aryan controversy
We cover the holocene period in India from the start of agriculture to the creation of the Rg Veda, and the Aryan controversy that started with Max Mullers translation of it. Songs from Kishore, Nilima Sen, Dwijen, Asha, Debabrata, Shanta Apte, Hemanta.

Episode 75: The killer ape
Continuing the saga of the evolution of the planetary life, we bring the issue to the newest arrival – humans, from ape to the the last ice age. Songs from Satinath, Tapan & Pramita Mallick, Kanika Bannerjee, Abbasuddin Ahmed, Susil Chatterjee, Santidev

Episode 74: History of India – where we came from
Tonu speaks off the cuff of the Indian history from when the dinosaurs died out till man discovered metal, along with songs & recitations from Rabindranath Tagore, Santideb Ghosh, Sandhya Mukherjee, Krishna Chatterjee, Manna Dey, Pratima Barua and Lata

Episode 73: Tapan Mallick and the arrival of the Aryans
Tapan Mallick serves more Palli Geeti, along with songs from Suchitra Mitra, Dhananjay Bhattacharya & Abbasuddin Ahmed. Tonu talks about the warming planet, and where the Aryans might have come from, and when, in other words, where do we come from.

Episode 71: Bratin Chatterjee On education, Rabidranath and 'other' stories
Interview with Bratin Chatterjee on his recently published book on Tagore' ideas of education against the backdrop of the education in India through historical times. Birsha from New Jersey presents a few captivating recitations – numerous songs.

Episode 65: Indian Parliament's Visva Bharati Act 1951 and amendments
Piyali Palit provided the text of the Visva Bharati Act, 1951 of Parliament with amendments. Some select sections of it has been discussed here, along with songs from Sridarshini Chakraborti, Nilima Sen, Suchitra Mitra & others.

Episode 63: Gurudev as social thinker/ Annada Shankar Roy on creation of Visva Bharati
Today we cover 1) a letter being prepared for UGC about Gurudev as a social thinker & 2) Annada Shankar Roy's speech on Gurudev's work in rural reform and Santiniketan's destiny. Bhulumama's recitation on Horikhela recovered. Songs from many.

Episode 62: The immortal Sahitya Sabha
Tamojit Ray from Bangalore presents an ageless, compilation into a virtual sahitya sabha, contributed by people born even a century apart. All thanks should go to Rabindranath for creating most but not all of it, and to Tamojit for conducting it.

Episode 61: Balmiki Pratibha in Santiniketan
We read from an article from 1981 on Balmiki Pratibha, as performed in Santiniketan from 1908 onward, including some songs. Also presenting Sridorshini Chakraboorti of Vancouver. Tamojit Roy (Tukul) presents his views on the phone from Bangalore.

Episode 58: Sujata Mitra's Diary / Jose reads the New York Times of 1916
Sandhya Mukherji, Pannalal Bhattacharya, Konika Bannerji, Srinanda Mukherji, Suchitra Mitra sing. Jose Peres of Canada reads a 92 year old article from New York Times, about Tagore. Sujata Mitra writes of her first few years of life in Santiniketan.

Episode 57: Lekha Chahia Lajja Diben Na – from Sagarmoy Ghosh
Sagarmoy Ghosh writes how he got on the wrong side of Sahitya Samrat Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, and how circumstance eventually turned him from being an magazine editor into a writer. Songs from Mistuni di, Ramkumar babu, Suchitra Mitra and Kanan Devi.

Episode 55: Chirajyoti, Aparajita, Sanghamitra, Shidharta & Diptodeep
Exstudents from Florida present the 55th Episode, covering “Rabindrachetanay Basanter Charandhwani”. The episode was prepared at home without professional help or experience, but is a creative outlet of large hearted Ex-students wanting to contribute.

Episode 53: Shyamali Khastagir
Conversation with Shyamali Khastagir on the value of reviving the Asramic Sangha's “bidhan sabha” concept. Also, we have an Assamese song by Dipali Barthakur, Sanskrit Rabindrasangeet, & more songs from Indranil Sen, K.L. Saigal and Santideb Ghosh.

Episode 52: Stephen Hay on Tagore in America, & Sharmila Roy
In this episode, Anuradha Mitra recites part of the long essay written by Stephen Hay in 1962 on Rabindranath Tagore in America, covering all five of his trips to the US. Also, on this episode, we offer four songs, all from Tuku di, Sharmila Roy

Episode 50: Piyali Palit and Gopal Krishna Gandhi
Today we complete half a century of Podcasts. Apart from a Baul by Sanatan Das, and songs by Ramkumar Chatterjee, Amala Das and Piyali herself, the topic is how to revive Santiniketan, and Piyali Palit's meeting with the Governor, Mr. Gopal Krishna Gandhi

Episode 49: Asian Ideas of East and West
Reading the introduction of Stephen Hay on East and West and Tagore's search for a common Oriental theme. Songs by Mohor di, Ankhi, Mistunidi, Mithu di. Self recites Tagore's poem “Hatabhagyer Gaan” for public domain audio book of Rabindranath Tagore.

Episode 44: Thoreau's “Civil Disobedience” and Rabindranath's “Sadhana”
Talks on audio books. Sample of Henry David Thoreau's “Civil Disobedience” and how the Gita and Upanishads came full circle back through Gandhi. Sample of Rabindranath's “Sadhana”. Rabindrasangeet on Corus songs and by Hemanta, Baul from Manna.

Episode 42: William Adam and Pramita Mallick
Five Rabindra Sangeet all by Pramita Mallick. My talk with Chiku di about the evolution of Brahmo Samaj which resulted in me reading about William Adam's Unitarian mission in India and its influence on Rammohan Roy and the Bengal Renaissance.

Episode 40: Priyodorshi Datta
Tagore song by Priyadarshi Datta. Me reciting an essay by Priyadarshi “Five generations of Indian women”. "Yesterday" by Mistuni di & Elvis. Two Brahma Sangeets by Subinoy Roy. Search for the first few Deshatvabodhak songs before Bande Mataram.

Episode 39: Kadambari Devi & Charulata
Kanika Bandopadhyay and Suchitra Mitra on a duet. Reading of Clinton Seely’s paper at Tagore Festival in University of Lillinois in 2000, Rabindrasangeet from Basabi Dutta, and from Charulata

Episode 04:
Today we start with a song, and followed up with some more update on the Santiniketan issues, along with a poem recitation from one that is no more with us. There is talk on youngsters of Santiniketan joining us on the podcast.

Episode 03:
This is the third Santiniketan Podcast episode, and for the first time, bits of songs are included here. Check it out my friends.[/code]

Episode 126 : The roots of our language, faith and culture
Sugata Sen and Piyali Palit help explore the ebb and flow of spirituality across our shores through eons, and how we came to where we are today. Songs by Santideb Ghosh, Snita Pramanik, Biswarup Rudra, Tamojit Ray, Pramit Sen and Mohan Singh.

Episode 120 : Kalakal & A discussion on Terrorism
Nimai babu recites part of the novel “Kalakal”. We record the initial part of the gobal conference call on terrorism and its root causes. Songs by Lasis Ahmed Lisa, Amar Pal, Firoza Begum, Krishna Chatterjee, Shekhar Sen, Sandhya Mukherjee

Episode 119 : UGS, Social Thinkers, and duty of Santiniketan exstudents
Discussing UGC clause of Social Thinkers of India, our long effort bears fruit, thanks to Somenath babu, and how each of us exstudens can help out in small ways, to the cause of Santiniketan. All songs from Kanika Bandopadhyay.

Episode 117 : Evolution, Genetics, Blood Type and Race
Here we put up some excerpts of other podcasts on Archeology, Evolution, Genetics, How we are close and yet separate from Chimps, and how Bengali Babu's prefer a certain blood type. Songs from Subinoy, Banani, Chinmoy, Banna, Paramita, Santideb.

Episode 115: Santiniketaner Chithi #15, Gandhi & Tagore
Subhomoy Ghosh's next Chithi followed by Archeologica talking about the first humans in North America and a discussion with Sandeep Shukla on things including Tagore and Gandhi. Songs by Santideb, Vikram, Konika & Suchitra, Suparna, Saunak & Lisa.

Episode 113: Lost Discoveries, old Manuscripts, and India the emerging giant
A part of the book of Dick Teresi, Lost discoveries – Significant contribution of early Indians in mathematics, Tapas da expressing his opinion, and a lecture on India's economic future. Songs by Lata, Rizwana, Debabrata, Moni, Dwijen, Nilima Sen.

Episode 112: Shulba Sutra & the origin of modern humans
We discuss firt the Sulba Sutra and then the Out of Africa Theory as depicted in Nicholas Wade's book, and talks with Piyali, Tapas da, Tukul, and myself. Songs by Geeta Ghatak, Hemanta, Indrani Sen, Saigal, Kishore & Ramkumar.

Episode 111: Swapan Majumdar and Early rice cultivation in India
A discussion with Mr. Swapan Majumdar about Rabindra Bhavan, Santiniketan and exstudents. A talk about early rice cultivation in India and a book by Nicholas Wace. Songs by Pintu di, Sounak, Asha, Banani Ghosh, Basabi & Chinmoy.

Episode 109 : Piyali Palit and Niladri Chaki
We discuss some aspects of the origin and history of the Bengali language, with wisdom from Piyali Palit at Oxford and Niladri Chaki in Toronto. Songs from Kanika Bandopadhyay, Sounak Chatterjee, Purabi Kukherjee, Riswana Chowdhury and Pijushkanti Sarkar

Episode 128 is up. There is a song, "Megher Pore Megh Jomechhe" by Debisri Datta with raga inserts by Saunak Chatterjee, recorded on the 7th of Jan at Moni's class in Bhavanipur Mallick badi.

I would like some feedback. I found it absolutely wonderful and played it during a mini conference call last wkend to Tukul and Tapas da.

Other than that, there is an adda at Kalor Dokan involving Babua (Subroto Ghosh), Kablu da, Bubla, Satia, Deepak Acharya, Benu da, myself and a few others. There are also snippets of adda with Mohan Singh and Vikran singh with short songs from both. Mohan Sing sang a two liner from Bhut Patrir Jatra. Satia's son Arka Agarwal sang a palli geeti in the Uttarayan stall right in the middle of all the noisy kolahol.

I have asked Aritra to record some more of Moni's class sessions. I really liked the songs and the quality of the singers, and wish I had attended more often and had more recordings. Tapan da sang "Icche kore poran tare gansa diya bandhi" which has been put up on an earlier episode 123.

The Santhal girl, Moyna Marddi, that just joined Sangeet Bhavana for dance, has sung a few Rabindrasangeet for me which I recorded at the residence of Ghughu (Shubhalaksmi), and one of them is up on episode 125. Michael Kisku is there on two different episodes, singing with Tusu di and with Gopa Bannerjee.

Thats it for now. And dont forget to vote at Podcastalley. Currently Santiniketan podcast is ranked fifth in its category of Society and Culture (out of some 1,800) and ranked 143 out of all Podcasts (out of some 200,000).

Cheers.

Tonu

Well, episode 129 is up.
Here we cover the conversation with Kishore Bhattacharya at his residence in Santiniketan on the 18th of December 2008. Among the participants are Kishore, his wife, Sotuda, Tapas da and myself.

I wanted to also add a separate conversation I had the same day with Roskay, the santhal Mali that has been around since I was a youngster, and who does a bit of gardening for us, and his wife Joba too comes around time to time. But I ran short of time. So Roskay will appear on another podcast.

We also managed to talk today with Piyali, Tukul, Kukul, Sotuda, Kishore, Sauren Bannerjee (Paritosh da's brother), Ajoy Kumar Das (Nippon Bhavan), Aruna Mukherjee (Russian language, Vidya Bhavan), and Subroto Ghosh (Babua). These conversations are not on episode 129. These might or might not appear on a future podcast. Ajoy Kumar Das wants to stay connected through email and also wishes to join up on this bulletin board.

Now India is sleeping, and North America is awake.

Cheers.

Tonu

Episode 137 is up, with a day trip to the Alice Lake area of British Columbia, and then a bit of yodeling on to Chapter 3 of "Sampadaker Baithake" by Sagarmoy Ghosh covering light interactions between Jaladhar babu and Sarat Chandra, with songs from Geeta Ghatak, Vikram and Mohan Singh, Kishore, Frank Ifield, Runa Layla, Mahasweta Bandopadhyay etc.

Been a busy wkend, but managed a single conference call, and talks with Antu da, Tuku di, Pradip Malhotra (a few days ago), Labu di, Sotuda, Tapas da back in UK, Tukul, Piyali, Barsan, Chandana di and Chirajyoti.

Called Mohan da a few times, but never could get him on phone. Khuku di (Anjana Sen, elder sister of Mithu di) called several times from California, but I missed all those calls.

Episode 135 History of the Bengali People
Presenting part 1 of the book by Nitish Sengupta, followed by Sujoy Dhara's letter to Desh Patrika about Arnold Bake and some references on it. Songs by Swagatalakshmi, Hemanta, Swagata Dey & Jayati Chakraborty, Tukul, WB Sangeet Academi and Surangama.

Episode 134: Santinikerater Chithi and a a bit of Bengali History
Presenting Santiniketaner Chithi of 31st Dec 1953, and a section from History of the Bengali speaking People byNitish Sengupta. Songs from Anuttama Ghosh, Sugata Sen, Sukhamoy Mitra, Chorus with Moni, Esha Mitra, Basabi Dutta Roy and Santideb Ghosh.

Episode 133: Abar Amra Sobai
Presenting the 2nd part of meeting with Amra Sobai at Benu Kunja in December 2008, with questions for ourselves in search of a path to help our Alma Mater. Songs from Tarun Khyapa Baul, Chorus, Suchitra Mitra & Arghya Sen duet, Santideb Ghosh, Purba Dam.

Episode 141: A Chithi and a Nakchhabi
Presenting a chithi of 28 feb 1963 from Subhomoy Ghosh, and a section from Hirer Nakchhabi from Sagarmoy Ghosh, covering a trip to the US in 1967. Songs by Santideb Ghosh, Tamojit Ray, Kishore Kumar, Suparna Guha and Suchitra Mitra.

Episode 145: News, Lekha and a bit of history
Presenting news of Silpa Sadan, recitations of a few old Amader Lekha and some history from Rabijibani - how the Kushari family acquired the Tagore surname. Songs from Sinjini Acharya Majumdar, Firdoshi Rehman, Kartik Das, Esha Mitra and Tamojit Ray.

Episode 146: Something about Bauls
About Bauls of Bengal, and reading from Santideb Ghosh's book on Rabindrasangeet, about the influence Bauls had on Rabindranath Tagore. Songs from Kiran Chandra Roy, Tamojit Ray, Basudev Das Baul, Amar Pal, Mohor di, Hemanta and Santideb Ghosh.

Episode 147: Hanglatherium and the future of energy
Talking mostly about Dinosaurs, starting with discoveries made by Henshoram Hunshiar and his nephew, leading to man's insatiable demand for energey, leading towards a global energy crisis. Songs by Tusu di, Mohor di, Tukul, Ramkumar, Lata and Jhuma.

Episode 149: Nuton O Puraton
Reading from Tagore's book Swadesh, covering part of an essay called Nuton O Puraton, followed by a recent adda by us on Skype on Nuclear Energy and stars. Songs by Jyotirmoy Maitra, Apala Basu, Alok Roychowdhury, Pramita Mallick, Suchitra Mitra.

Episode 150: Something about Thorium
Presenting a few conversations, and a continuation of a talk on our energy security, and the possible role for the heavy metal Thorium. Songs by Chitralekha Chowdhury, Suchitra Mitra and Arghya Sen, Tamojit Ray, Hemanta Mukherji and Srikanta Acharya

Episode 161: MAHALAYA
Mahalaya recordings with recitation of Birendra Krishna Bhadra and songs. No input from me. This is to discuss the original roots of some of Mahalayas slokas, deep into vedic scripture, as well as stature of women in society, in future Podcasts.

Episode 166: About Tamojit Ray
Tukul talks about how he got into singing and acting, his childhood, his family background and his contact with Bauls. All 8 songs in are in his own voice, including first sample of a Rabi Padaboli still being written by Tonu and tune set by Tukul.

Episode 167: Amader Chhora
Presenting the second section of the upcoming Amader Chhora book, with multiple contributions coming from people. Songs by Anindya Sen of Bangalore and his mother Tusudi, or Sugata Sen or Kolkata.

Episode 170 : A new lease of life for Tollywood
Anidya Seal of Databazaar Media Venture talks about new efforts at globalizing the market for a moribund and cash trapped Tollygunj film industry. Songs by Indrani Sen, Chitralekha Chowdhury, Esha Mitra, Pijushkanti Sarkar, Bhumi, Chorus, Santidev Ghosh.

Episode 171: Book review - Raj Patel and John Perkin
Socioeconomic situation of the world, through two books presenting a new angle. Patel and Perkin talk of their books Value of Nothing and Hoodwinked. Songs by Shyamali Sur, Geeta Ghatak, Biswarup Rudra, Mohan Singh and Indira Bandopadhyay.